WhY is ~DiSnEy~ so CROWDED in *FeBrUaRy*?????

[Braden's Momma]

I've been watching the boards the last few weeks & have noticed a LOT of posts on how CROWDED all the parks have been & how long wait times are for rides!!! I just don't get it!! Do you think this is because MANY of the people are on the FREE DINING PROMO that ends March 7th????? That's all I can think of. We've done FREE DINING in Sept. 2007, 2009 & 2011 & even at THAT time never experienced wait times such as those that are being posted. We are going May 4-12 are are PAYING for dining this time around (really goes against my grain to do this) but I'm hoping & PRAYING that the parks aren't as busy as NOW since the FREE DINING promo & SPRING BREAK will be over. UGH!!!

I think it is the locals enjoying the nice weather and the new Fantasy Land.

 

[crazycatlady]

DD16's pom squad has been in DW since 2/13 along with a number of other squads from the midwest.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

This is not good news. Im going next week.

Our kids (and lots of others) are on February vacation Presidents week. MANY MANY folks are heading out of the snow/cold to WDW next week. Sadly we are not one of them.

 

[rustyanchor]

We go in late Feb/early March every year and it usually isn't bad. The only time we experienced crazy crowds was on Feb. 29 last year during "One More Disney Day."

 

[JasNicMadAl]

Just got back from 2/7-2/14 trip. We have been during Mardi Gras before and it was much busier this time. What I really noticed was the wait times were off on several rides: Soarin, RnRc, TSM & Test Track. Each were 20-45 minutes longer than announced. On Monday morning, Soarin had 40 minute posted wait & we waited for over 85 minutes. It appearred most of the wait was due to Fast Passes as their line kept moving and we stood still.

We will never go during a 'busy time' as we enjoy our trips in Feb. or Sept/Oct.

 

[MoonFaerie]

This is not good news. Im going next week.

This weekend is President's Day, so crowds are higher because of people being off from work/school. Next weekend is the Princess Half Marathon. I'm not sure how much that impacts crowds though. I'll get to find out in a few days though.

 

[bittybabygrower]

We are here with our band...at Studios today waits were up to almost over 3 hours! Crazy!!!

 

[posh*tots* resale]

We're flyout out Sat Feb 23rd for 10 days. We're now following easywdw touring/crowd calender and avoiding the EMH parks like the plague. (which so goes against my train of thought. ) Last time we went, EMHours were pure heaven! But.. that was 8 years ago. Hoping his crowd calender and suggested parks works. We're also packing for temps anywhere from 40-85 degrees. Hoping for the best!

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo keeping my fingers XcrossedX that early May is NOT crowded and I hope that its warm. Sept is quite HOT & we like to wear tanks & shorts. The above quote gets me worried though. We ALWAYS plan our days around EMH. ALWAYS!!! We try and take advantage of the LATE hours, NOT the early morning openings. We never really had a problem with EMH in Sept & hoping its the same for May!!

 

[Murron]

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo keeping my fingers XcrossedX that early May is NOT crowded and I hope that its warm. Sept is quite HOT & we like to wear tanks & shorts. The above quote gets me worried though. We ALWAYS plan our days around EMH. ALWAYS!!! We try and take advantage of the LATE hours, NOT the early morning openings. We never really had a problem with EMH in Sept & hoping its the same for May!!

shushhhhh!!!!! September is still the wonderful a-hem "secret" ... we go after Labor day and it's heaven. We are also going in early May again this year. The Epcot Flower/Garden show does draw the crowds, but it will never compare to the chaos we had to experience when the children were young and the only time we could go was in (ugh ugh ugh) end of August. I think you'll find May is very do-able. EMH is not a consideration for us...but then again we are very early risers and EMH or not, we are usually at the parks early and in the resort pool by 2 p.m.

 

[jenjordan]

Our school district here in MI and many others are on break all next week and a lot of my daughter's friends are headed to Disney

 

[posh*tots* resale]

shushhhhh!!!!! September is still the wonderful a-hem "secret" ... we go after Labor day and it's heaven. We are also going in early May again this year. The Epcot Flower/Garden show does draw the crowds, but it will never compare to the chaos we had to experience when the children were young and the only time we could go was in (ugh ugh ugh) end of August. I think you'll find May is very do-able. EMH is not a consideration for us...but then again we are very early risers and EMH or not, we are usually at the parks early and in the resort pool by 2 p.m.

My lips are sealed!!!

 

[larryz]

I've been watching the boards the last few weeks & have noticed a LOT of posts on how CROWDED all the parks have been & how long wait times are for rides!!! I just don't get it!! Do you think this is because MANY of the people are on the FREE DINING PROMO that ends March 7th????? That's all I can think of. We've done FREE DINING in Sept. 2007, 2009 & 2011 & even at THAT time never experienced wait times such as those that are being posted. We are going May 4-12 are are PAYING for dining this time around (really goes against my grain to do this) but I'm hoping & PRAYING that the parks aren't as busy as NOW since the FREE DINING promo & SPRING BREAK will be over. UGH!!!

Two words: F - L - E.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We have been to WDW several times in February before and never before have we seen crowds like this past week. It was more crowded and hectic than peak summer season trips we have taken. The tour groups were overwhelming, more so than ever before for us. The cheer and dance girls were there but not causing any problems, all the loud cheering, crowd stopping groups were BTG. We also did not realize schools had off for mardi gras, that does not happen near us. Winter break here, if we have one in Presidents' Day and possibly the week of

 

[MacClemsons]

We were there 2/5-2/12. Apart from the first three days of our trip it was very crowded. I do think new FL is a big draw. We were some of the first people to get in line for ETWB on a Wednesday at RD and still waited 20 mins.starting over the weekend, the parks were flooded with Louisiana visitors. We were some of the only people not wearing green, gold&purple. I know Pres day is busy so we planned to avoid it. No idea Mardi Gras would bring crowds. We saw wait times of 90 mins for Pooh on 2/10. Even DS6 said, "that's crazy!" Another consideration might be Daytona 500?

 

[Prince Eric's Mom]

We have been to WDW several times in February before and never before have we seen crowds like this past week. It was more crowded and hectic than peak summer season trips we have taken. The tour groups were overwhelming, more so than ever before for us. The cheer and dance girls were there but not causing any problems, all the loud cheering, crowd stopping groups were BTG. We also did not realize schools had off for mardi gras, that does not happen near us. Winter break here, if we have one in Presidents' Day and possibly the week of

I agree. We just came back. Saturday MK closed to capacity in the afternoon. Was told by a CM that other than the obvious holiday times that hasn't happened in the 10 years he'd been there! Sunday was crazy, too! This was NOT at all like the other visits we have had during this same time period.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Not sure if it was Friday or Saturday, but at one point late morning there was an hour wait for the monorail from the TTC to MK!

 

[blebert]

I hope they crowds die down the first week of March. I was one that took advantage of the FR deal 4 days for $129. We will be in the parks Monday the 4th through Thur. 8th

 

[carolinamama]

A friend was there last week and also said it was crazy crowded!

Our first day in the park is 2/27. Touringplans is showing a 3 for that day as well as 2/28. Hope it's accurate!

 

[posh*tots* resale]

I was watching on TV this morning "LIVE with Kelly & Michael" and they are broadcasting their show all week from Disney. Early this morning at the MK, it looked soooooooooooooooooooooo crowded on their show. YIKES~~!!!!!

 

[cc-atl]

People could not believe the crowds in January either.

I think the main reason is the FLE. I imagine quite a few people put off their 2012 trips until 2013 in order to see the new fantasyland.

Also, the traditional school year is becoming less common. Educators are coming to believe that it might be better for students (and their ability to retain material) to have more smaller breaks through out the year and less of a summer break. As a result you are seeing lots of school systems give weeks off in February (either for Presidents Day or Mardi Gras or just as a random winter break).